Black money: I-T dept begins survey of 8 builders in MP, Chhattisgarh

After conducting surveys and searches on premises of prominent jewellers in Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur and Ratlam, the income-tax department has now shifted its focus to builders and land developers to detect possible parking of black money.

The I-T department sleuths have started verification surveys at the premises of at least eight builders and land bank developers in MP and Chhattisgarh.(Pic for representation)

After conducting surveys and searches on premises of prominent jewellers in Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur and Ratlam, the income-tax department has now shifted its focus to builders and land developers to detect possible parking of black money.

The I-T department sleuths have started verification surveys at the premises of at least eight builders and land bank developers in MP and Chhattisgarh over specific inputs about possible parking of black money of investors in the wake of November 8 demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 banknotes.

While some of the surveys started on Monday, other surveys started on Tuesday and are likely to continue over the next two days.

According to a senior I-T department official in Bhopal, the surveys are being carried out at premises of two builders and land bank developers in Bhopal, three in Jabalpur and Gwalior and three in Chhattisgarh capital Raipur.

“The verification surveys have started since Monday evening following specific intelligence inputs about certain builders aiding parking of demonetised currency as well as helping black money hoarders invest in Benami properties,” the I-T department official said.

Several incriminating documents have been seized on the first two days of the surveys, which could turn the surveys into full fledged searches at official and residential premises of the builders, he said.

The eight builders include a prominent builder’s group headquartered at MP Nagar area of Bhopal, beside a land bank developer involved in projects in Bhopal, Ujjain and Gwalior.

Among the two Bhopal builders whose premises and records are being surveyed, one group has seven associated firms, he added.

Recent surveys at 16 major jewellery showrooms in Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur and Ratlam had revealed that the suspects had sold gold and precious jewellery worth Rs 100 crore on November 8-9 night, just a few hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 banknotes.

Two of these surveys later turned into full-fledged searches at four residential premises of two jewellers in Bhopal, which led to undisclosed assets worth over Rs 15 crore.